Attitudes of gratitude

Jacobson

Hammond

Forssell

Holmes

Duncan

Brooks

Mattare

by DEVIN WEEKS, BILL BULEY, JOSA SNOW & KAYE THORNBRUGH/Staff Writers
| November 23, 2023 1:09 AM

North Idaho has much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

Local mayors and county commissioners took a moment to reflect and share with The Press the gratitude filling their hearts this year.

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson said he is grateful for his mayoral counterparts in neighboring cities.

"I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Mayor (Vic) Holmes in Rathdrum," he said, adding that outgoing Hayden Mayor Scott Forssell has done a good job in his city as well.

Jacobson said he is thankful for Coeur d'Alene Mayor Jim Hammond and all of the experience and expertise he brings to the table.

"I'm fortunate to be in a position to work with some awfully good leaders," Jacobson said.

The 37th mayor of Post Falls said he is grateful the expansion work on State Highway 41 is complete, and pleased the timeline has been moved up a year on the Interstate 90-Highway 41 interchange so that will be done earlier than anticipated.

Most of all, Jacobson is thankful for the people who keep things running smoothly in the River City.

"The biggest thing is the staff I have," he said. "They make my job significantly easier than it could be."

Hammond expressed his gratitude as the mayor of the Lake City.

"I am most grateful for a family that supports my public service and for the privilege of living in a beautiful place called Coeur d'Alene," he said.

Although he is looking forward to retirement, Scott Forssell took a moment to reflect on some of the joys of serving as Hayden's mayor.

“Everyone probably says this first, but I am thankful for our citizens and the support they give the city,” he said. “I’m also thankful for people who disagree with me. I don’t necessarily do the right things all the time and having people disagree with me is really important. I value having those perspectives and that dialogue with the citizens.”

He said he is also deeply grateful for an incredible staff that keeps the city moving efficiently and works with the people of Hayden in a kind and friendly way.

“I guess I could say I’m thankful for a council that has a vision for the future,” Forssell said. “And who knows what we can change and what we can’t change. You get the Queen Mary moving in one direction and they don’t turn on a dime.”

He said he appreciates the difficulty of what council members aspire to do for Hayden's residents and the limitations they’re up against in making things happen.

“But I think that some of my favorite things have been centered around kids,” Forssell said. “The Arbor Day activities, the parades, the kids in the parades, the kite festival – those are the kinds of things that are really special.”

Also in his final term as mayor, Rathdrum's Vic Holmes said he is most thankful for the love and understanding he receives from his family and friends.

"I’m thankful to my parents, as they relocated back from Chicago to raise their children and lineage here," Holmes said. "God has blessed us."

Kootenai County's leaders also shared a few things for which they are thankful.

“I am grateful I had the opportunity to represent the citizens of Kootenai County again this year,” Commissioner Leslie Duncan said.

As a Kootenai County resident, Duncan said she’s also thankful for the community members with whom she interacts.

“There is so much compassion, dedication to the Kootenai way of life and spirit of service here locally,” she said. “Of course, I am indebted to my family and friends, not just this time of year but always.”

Commissioner Bill Brooks expressed a similar sentiment.

“I’m grateful that Kootenai County is an area where we can all exercise our rights as American citizens,” he said.

He also shared thanks for the staff who help keep Kootenai County on track.

“I’m grateful for the accurate financial data we get from the auditor,” Brooks said. “Without it, you’re flying a plane with no instruments. You know where you’re going, but you don’t know where. When we work with (county finance director) Brandi Falcon, we have good confidence that our instrument panel is working correctly.”

This was Commissioner Bruce Mattare’s first year in office.

“(I’m grateful) that the community has faith in me to perform the job of county commissioner to the level they expect and deserve,” he said. “We live in a terrific community with wonderful people who care about its future.”